10 Interesting Miguel de Cervantes Facts

Miguel de Cervantes Facts present the information about the famous soldier, playwright, poet and novelist from Spain. He was famous with his notable work, Don Quixote. Check more facts about Cervantes by reading the following post below:

Miguel de Cervantes Facts 1: life span

Cervantes was born on 29 September 1547 in Alcalá de Henares, Spain. His full name is Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra. He passed away at the age of 68 years old on 22 April 1968.

Miguel de Cervantes Facts 2: occupation

Cervantes was a Spanish playwright, poet and novelist. He was the writer of the famous Don Quixote. This work is called as the first modern European novel.

Miguel de Cervantes Don Quixote

Miguel de Cervantes Facts 3: the language of Cervantes

The language of Cervantes is an important term linked to Cervantes. He contributed a lot to the development of Spanish language. Therefore, it was called as the language of Cervantes or la lengua de Cervantes. People also called him The Prince of Wits or El Príncipe de los Ingenios.

Miguel de Cervantes Facts 4: early job

Cervantes worked as a chamber assistant of rich priests when he decided to move to Rome, Italy in 1569. Then he became a Spanish soldier. The Algerian corsairs captured him in 1575. He had to live in slavery for five years after he was released by paying ransom from the money of the Trinitarians and his parents.

Miguel de Cervantes Facts

Miguel de Cervantes Facts 5: La Galatea

La Galatea was his pastoral novel that Cervantes wrote in 1585. Cervantes always faced difficult finance. He decided to work as a purveyor for Spain. Then he was appointed as a tax collector.

Miguel de Cervantes Facts 6: Don Quixote

The first part of Don Quixote earned him a success when he was in Valladolid in 1605. The novel was published in Madrid. It marked the comeback of Cervantes into the literary world.

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Miguel de Cervantes Facts 7: place of living

Cervantes decided to live his life in Madrid since 1607. He also died in the city.

Miguel de Cervantes Facts 8: published works

Besides Don Quixote, Cervantes also published other works such as the Journey to Parnassus (Viaje al Parnaso) in 1614, Novelas ejemplares (Exemplary Novels) in 1613, the second part of Don Quixote, and the Ocho comedias y ocho entremeses in 1615. Check another famous playwright in William Shakespeare facts.

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Miguel de Cervantes Facts 9: father

His father was a barber surgeon from Cordoba. His name was Rodrigo. You should not be surprised to know that a barber was allowed to do surgery such as performing bloodlettings and setting bones in the past.

Miguel de Cervantes Facts10: mother

Miguel’s mother was Leonor de Cortinas. She was the third daughter of a nobleman who went bankrupt. In 1543, he had to sell his daughter into matrimony.